World News 808909 and Their Breathing Machines
World News 808909 at Sled Island. Photo credit: Daman Singh.
Toronto-based electronic duo World News 808909 — comprised of Q and Bill — have long existed in their own rhythmic ecosystem. Their sound is entirely hardware-driven: no laptops, no backing tracks, just an intricate network of synths and drum machines that feel as alive as the musicians guiding them. Now, with the release of their debut full-length ON STEROIDS (out October 3 via Safe Sounds), the pair’s improvisational ethos has fully crystallized.
While this conversation took place during their Sled Island performance earlier this year, the ideas that define their process feel more relevant than ever. With ON STEROIDS, World News 808909 double down on their commitment to spontaneity, using analog gear to capture moments that instinctive and unpredictable. The album’s intensity and its humour are mirrored in their live shows, which they describe as “one big organic set,” merging chaos and precision until the line between man and machine disappears.
Below, the duo speaks with Marcus Ogden about their process and why they’ll always choose living, breathing circuitry over screens.
REVERIE: Can you introduce yourselves and tell us a bit about what World News 808909 is?
WORLD NEWS 808909: We’re World News 808909 — formerly just World News — and we’re an all-hardware electronic duo. I’m Q, and this is Bill. The name comes from the 808 and 909 drum machines — classic pieces of gear we’ve never actually owned, but they represent the tradition we’re rooted in.
REVERIE: How would you describe your sound?
WORLD NEWS 808909: Our setup is all synths and drum machines — no guitars, no bass, no acoustic instruments. The machines are basically breathing while we sculpt the noise. It’s dark, raucous, and sometimes punk, but with a lush ambient sensibility. There’s a darkness to it, but we try to keep it grounded and organic even though everything’s electronic.
REVERIE: Why keep it all hardware-based?
WORLD NEWS 808909: It leaves room for improvisation. We’re not locked into a digital space — the machines are talking to each other, we’re sending signals through pedals and loopers, and everything’s alive. We record hours of 16-channel jams and sculpt from there. It’s instinctive, not overthought. We don’t write songs in the traditional sense — we capture moments we could never plan.
REVERIE: You’ve described the machines as “breathing.” What do you mean by that?
WORLD NEWS 808909: Because we’re constantly improvising, the music has a pulse. When everything’s synced, it feels like the machines are breathing and we’re breathing with them. After a while it becomes second nature — we stop thinking and just react. That’s when it’s most special.
REVERIE: How do you translate that into a live performance?
WORLD NEWS 808909: Our sets are one continuous organism. We have songs, but we merge them together so the energy never drops. It’s all about flow — building a hypnotic environment where people start breathing with the machines too. There’s always a bit of chaos and audience interaction. Every show feels unique.
REVERIE: Tell us about your new album, ON STEROIDS.
WORLD NEWS 808909: We just approved the test pressing right before Sled Island — it’s our first full-length. It’s out now on vinyl and CD through Safe Sounds. We also just dropped a video for “Lot Lizard,” which was filmed by a VR pioneer who turned us into 3D models inside these surreal environments. It’s wild — a journey to another world.
REVERIE: Anything else you want listeners to know?
WORLD NEWS 808909: We’re part of Safe Sounds, a Toronto-based collective. Check out safesounds.ca — there’s so much cool stuff happening there, like Mike Wallace’s solo project Citizenry, and the drummer of Preoccupations and formerly Women. And if you haven’t yet, dive into ON STEROIDS. It’s the truest expression of what we do — machines breathing, humans sculpting.